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| 05-12-2010
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday released its May orange forecast for the 2009-10 season and showed no change in expectations for a 131.6-million-box crop.
“It has been a good season for Florida citrus growers,” Michael W. Sparks, the executive vice president and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, said for a news release issued by the grower organization. “The season is winding down and we produced another quality crop of healthy Florida citrus, which is a testament to our growers, considering the challenges they face on a daily basis.”
The USDA's forecast for the early and midseason orange crop remained unchanged at 68.6 million boxes, while Valencias stayed at 63 million boxes.
The USDA makes its initial citrus forecast in October and then revises it monthly until the end of the season in July.
The USDA’s grapefruit May estimate increased 800,000 boxes to 19.8 million. White grapefruit accounted for 300,000 boxes and colored grapefruit made up the remaining 500,000-box increase.
For Florida specialty fruit, the USDA’s tangelo estimate stayed at 900,000 boxes, while tangerines increased by 400,000 boxes to 4.5 million.
The all-variety yield for frozen concentrated orange juice was reduced from 1.56 gallons per 90-pound box to 1.55 gallons. The Valencia yield decreased from 1.65 gallons per 90-pound box to 1.63 gallons.
Read the original article from The News Chief.